Potvin, Gilles, "Marcel Valois". In The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Article published February 07, 2006; last modified December 16, 2013. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/marcel-valois-emc

Marcel Valois

Marcel (b Joseph Henri Jean) Valois (b Dufresne). Critic, essayist, b Montreal 17 Mar 1898, d there 6 Oct 1991. After his general education he read law and literature at the University of Montreal and studied piano.

Valois, Marcel

Marcel (b Joseph Henri Jean) Valois (b Dufresne). Critic, essayist, b Montreal 17 Mar 1898, d there 6 Oct 1991. After his general education he read law and literature at the University of Montreal and studied piano. He was music critic 1929-54 for the Montreal daily La Presse and continued to contribute on a weekly basis until 1971.

Valois was the commentator 1941-2 for a series of recitals - 'Les liedistes français' - in a salon at the Windsor Hotel, in which the soprano Jeanne Desjardins, and the pianist Marie-Thérèse Paquin took part. For nine seasons he was a juror for the CBC's 'Singing Stars of Tomorrow'. For CBC radio he prepared and presented the 1973-4 series 'La musique à Montréal 1920-50' and the 1974-5 series 'Théâtre chanté, théâtre dansé.'

Valois wrote enthusiastic and intelligent articles in a vivid style. They reveal his admiration for genuine artistry and his keen appreciation of the music of French composers, particularly Debussy and Ravel. He was also a perceptive dance critic.